The Truth

Chapter one- The Tradition

This summer started out like any other in our small town, with the last day of school; and my parents parked in the parking lot packed for our annual survivalist camping trip. Little did I know that this trip would be the beginning of everything I knew changing.

"Are you ready for our annual torture?" Seth asks as he approaches me, pulling me out of my thoughts. Seth had been tagging along with our family every summer for this tradition since we were little kids. It worked out well because his parents both travel abroad for business quite frequently so they are never really around. 

"That depends, did you actually pack  swimming trunks this year?" I tease remembering last year's skinny dipping fiasco. I crack a smile when the image of my dad's beat red face appears in my head from the memory. Seth laughed too, his deep chuckle filling the nearly empty corridor. Just then his eyes flashed with a mischievous glisten before returning to his warm caramel color. 

"Wait and see Ginny. Wait and see." was all he said before leading me down the hall and out of the building. As we walk towards the back of the lot where my father typically parks, I notice that most of the students are still in the parking lot, talking in their own little cliques. Yet someone catches my attention as I can easily hear what is being said. 

"Yeah, didn't you hear about it? She totally cried! I mean how could she be that stupid? Why would someone like Alex actually like a freshman that looks like Genivera?" one of the cheerleaders say while laughing and glancing up at me. Feeling the heat rising in my cheeks I push my gaze to the ground and walk faster. 

"Jen? How about you shut your mouth? Everyone knows you are the biggest slut in sophomore year. I mean did you ever get treated for that round of syphilis last month?" Seth shouts back at her obviously extremely irritated at her comments towards me, I look back at him to see his fists clenched and his muscles tense. " Don't talk about shit you don't understand." And with that final jab towards her he turns on his heel and takes my hand. We continue in silence until we reach the end of the lot. 

"Thank you for sticking up for me, I know that probably just lowered your popularity status. But I appreciate it." I whisper as I try to keep the memories from flooding in. Seth keeps quiet but offers me a small smile as my dad calls out to us. 

"Finally! There you two are!" He grumbles, obviously slightly annoyed by the delay, my mom looks up from the radio and offers us a warm smile as we toss our bags in the bed of the truck before climbing into the backseat of the cab. 

"Sorry to keep you waiting Mr. and Mrs. Parris, I had to talk to coach about football conditioning." Seth lied smoothly knowing to avoid the reality of what was happening. 

"Please Seth, how many times must we ask you to call us Josh and Kathy?" My mom asks teasingly. I roll my eyes and make a face as Seth as I already know the answer. 

"At least once more Mrs. Parris, as always." Seth smiles towards my mom, while giving her his most polite and innocent face. I nudge him with my elbow and fake a gag which causes us both to break out into quiet laughter. 

"See Qenivera, why can't you date nice boys like Seth. I like him so much better for you then.... oh dear what was that other kids name Kate? Uhmmmm the football kid with the douche bag hair cut.... Why doesn't he come around anyone Ginny?" My dad rambles as my mom drastically tries to cut him off by turning up the radio. But the moment my father mentions him the memories hit me hard, and this time I can't keep them back. I curl up into a ball in my seat as the flashback hits me. 

FLASHBACK-- 2 weeks ago

"Hey Ginny, can I borrow your notes for last weeks Chem test? I totally bombed it and I need to study for the retake." Fae, a girl in my class asks as she approaches my locker causing me to look up from my cellphone.